My Year-Long Decluttering Project. THOUSANDS of Items GONE!

[@reallifewithali]

Do you consider yourself a minimalist? For more decluttering motivation, watch this next: EXTREME Storage Closet Declutter | BEFORE & AFTER kzbin.info/www/bejne/hquQfZ-EebJrfNE

[@LazyDaisyDay88]

If people ask me "are you a minimalist" or "are you trying to be a minimalist" and I just tell them "I have what I need". I honestly think thats the true definition of minimalism for most people. We don't have a house filled with clutter and unused objects, we just have what we need. And I genuinely think thats a difficult concept for most people given that we are all bombarded with consumerism 24 hours a day. Well done on your journey - I think it must be very much easier to clean and keep tidy when everything has a 'home'!

[@reallifewithali]

I like that! Thanks!

[@kellyl7610]

I like to call myself a Moderate Minimalist. My house isn't barren or sterile. Looks like a normal house of a family of 4. Just not cluttered up with things.

[@reallifewithali]

Sounds like you’re in a good place!

[@Julie-n9b]

Great video reassessing your spaces to see what has worked well & what needs tweaking! “Minimal-ish” probably best describes me. I don’t want to be an extreme minimalist but I definitely prefer as little clutter as possible.

[@reallifewithali]

Thanks!

[@Snitzler4710]

I commend you for the changes you have made in your home. Be proud that you have a new mindset. It will continue to add value to your life. Great job and stay focused on what’s essential and what is not. ❤

[@reallifewithali]

Thank you! ❤️

[@shirleygermain5707]

I am a minimalist. I have so much free time now.

[@reallifewithali]

That’s awesome!

[@Teaspoon04]

I love that! I heard ages ago, the more stuff you have, the more time you need to spend taking care of it. I try to keep that in mind when I’m curating my home.

[@reallifewithali]

@@Teaspoon04 Yes! I agree!

[@jennyjenkins877]

This was a great recap of the areas you've decluttered. Your organizational skills are on point because most areas have remained tidy. There's just that one shelf you mentioned where a lidded bin doesn't work and you already have ideas for a solution.

[@reallifewithali]

Thanks! ❤️

[@pamelafreeman4548]

Wow! Looking good! It seems we always have to tweek rooms!!😊

[@reallifewithali]

Thanks! Yes, we do. 😊

[@heatherbasinger3656]

For medicine storage, something that works for me is I have a lazy susan with removable sections for all the essentials in each category (cold, headache, stomach, bandages, etc) and then one extra bin that holds the surplus/medical items we use less frequently. ❤

[@reallifewithali]

That’s a good idea! I did see something like that on Pinterest. I was curious if it would work. Maybe I’ll give it a try! Thanks!

[@barbstormo7030]

Good morning Ali! I think you are a reasonable person who, like a lot of us, keep things that matter to you and your family. You are right about your family living there and they like their things too. Plus, sometimes, you need stuff at certain times and if you get rid of everything you will just need to rebuy. I am very aware these days of what I bring into my home. If I can't immediately think in my head where I would use something I don't buy it. I love this video. Personally I think you are doing a great job keeping everything organized! Have a great week!

[@reallifewithali]

Thanks Barb! I am really trying to be better at being more aware of what I purchase. I have definitely improved because sometimes I’m tempted to buy something and remind myself I don’t need it. Other times, I really want it and buy it without thinking too much. That’s where I can improve.

[@chickadee-]

Your house looks amazing. I love the way you organize. Like real people, not "Instagram" fake people. Your channel has inspired me to get organized. I moved from a 3000 sq ft house to a 1200 sq ft house and had to get rid of a LOT of stuff. And I'm a prepper and a total sentimentalist so letting go is hard. I let all my now adult children have whatever they wanted so got rid of a lot of stuff that way. I have some donation boxes in progress - clothes, dishes and kitchen stuff and books. I will be giving them to the thrift store that supports our local no kill animal shelter where my beloved dog Lucy came from. And no, I could never be a minimalist, I just want a place for everything out of sight but handy to get to. Edit: I did redecorate my living room and bedroom which gave me motivation to make everything look good.

[@reallifewithali]

I bet you had to get rid of a lot! Wow. Thanks so much for watching and I’m glad I helped inspire you to get organized! ❤️

[@kellypruitt2362]

Always love a new video. Thanks so much for sharing ❤❤

[@reallifewithali]

Aww, thank you!!

[@thestrugglingperfectionist]

I ❤️ Erica Lucas and I totally think you’re in the Minimal-ish realm 😉! I would never have considered your ‘Befores’ to have shown a cluttered home, but I think you’ve paired down nicely in the past year 🎉. Your family must be the same Bug Types (Clutterbug) because it’s amazing how well stuff has been put away! Very few items ‘out of place’. 👏🏼👏🏼 Another great video! Keep up the great work! 😊

[@reallifewithali]

It’s probably because I follow everyone around and move things back into the right spot! 🤣

[@noemisolano4748]

I too live with two other people. This was a while back, one day I couldn't find an important paper that I needed. Because I had lots of papers and clothes. I wasn't organized with my belongings. It took one entire day for me to find that paper!! That's when my journey to declutter began. I did a massive declutter of my clothes and shredded tons of papers that belonged to me. I saw that having less clothes and papers, I was able to find clothes or papers quickly. I am able to organize the belongings I need to keep. For me having less as I get older is better for me. I think I'm minimalish. I now like to live with things that are needed in baskets and the baskets labeled. This way it's easier for me to find my stuff. That's my ideal home!! But it's something that isn't ideal because my husband is a hoarder. Our child donates items that she no longer needs or wants. But my husband doesn't like to donate and shred. So my home is cluttered and unorganized because of my husband. This frustrates me but nothing I can do about it.🤷

[@reallifewithali]

I know that can be hard! I feel ya on that!

[@rikkeknudsen_]

Hi! In the beginning of this video I thought that this reminds me of what Erica Lucas calls «minimalish». Funny you mentioned it later in the video!

[@reallifewithali]

🤣

[@danabrown2391]

Fun to see your before and afters! You have more organizing containers than me which makes things Look more organized and I have some boxes of pepper food storage. I call myself a cosy minimalist with not very many pieces of decor, or personal things and I'm always looking to see what else I can get rid of!

[@reallifewithali]

Love it! I don’t have very much decor either. It’s a good thing anyway because I don’t really know how to decorate!

[@paulineward2068]

Hi Ali, thanks for being honest. Theres always spaces that need extra work. I love your jumper, it really suits you x💕x

[@reallifewithali]

Thank you!

[@rmf4]

I don't think that I'll ever be a minimalist. But, I'm working hard to get rid of stuff that I don't need or use. I'm also very sentimental.

[@reallifewithali]

I guess "minimalist" can mean something different for everyone! Being sentimental and keep things you use or need it totally okay!

[@Coral-k3v]

I'm short & i find top shelves a challenge. So i bought a tool to grab things, my husband liked it so much he bought one for his shed. I don't know what they're called but they have like claws that open & shut.

[@reallifewithali]

We had one of those grabbers. The kids broke it! I usually grab a stool to climb on.

[@lindakleiner5734]

I’ve seen others that make a Nurf peg board for their kids toys. You seem to have room on the sides maybe this could be a project to help and give the kids a place to put the nurfs

[@reallifewithali]

Oh that’s a good idea! That might work. Thanks!

[@liatori6214]

Whenever I heard the term "Minimalism" back a few years ago, I was very intrigued. In the meantime, other names were brought in, like "Essentialism" and Maximalism." Like one has to decide which to choose. Many of us, though, find their own interpretation regarding their style, the way it should be. These days, the " Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning" impacts my decluttering and organization at home.

[@reallifewithali]

I agree! Thanks for your thoughts.

[@susanhollis5015]

I think you are probably a very busy woman so of course you would have everything perfect if you had more time. You are doing great in this phase of your life. 😊❤🙏

[@reallifewithali]

❤️ Thanks! I always have to remind myself of that!

[@annw1395]

There shouldn't be any pressure to be called minimalist or something else. What's important is that you have a comfortable, organized home without excess. Which you have. Even many of your "before" pictures were neat and organized. But if you do this again, I would urge you to tidy up first, since I know that would be your norm. Eg: unless the floor of your toy closet is always messy, why show it to us that way bc then we can't tell how it "normally" is now. Everyone's house gets messy during the day: kitchen, bathroom, etc but that doesn't mean we take the pictures in that temporary situation. IMO, anyway. You're obviously a neat, orderly person, and that's awesome, no matter what name it goes by! PS, my favorite closet is the sports one. That one came out fabulously!

[@reallifewithali]

That’s a good idea. Thanks! I just figured I’d show how it looks in real life. 😂

[@annw1395]

I know what you mean, but real life varies so much throughout the day anyway. Either way, your house is in way better shape than mine! 👍

[@reallifewithali]

@@annw1395 that’s true. Haha.

[@Nini-ze2jk]

​@@reallifewithaliHi Ali, I recently landed on your channel. Well actually yesterday, while I was decluttering and watched a marathon of your videos. I did appreciate in this video that you showed the "mess" on the floor bc it happens so it's reality. Excited to watch more!

[@reallifewithali]

@@Nini-ze2jk Thank you!

[@theresachristian4246]

I wouldn’t call you a minimalist I just call you organized

[@reallifewithali]

😊

[@DevonneAnonly]

I think you’re a minimalist when you have decided to make it your lifestyle. You don’t have to wait until you’ve simplified and everything you do is 100% minimalistic to call yourself a minimalist. You always have to adjust.

[@reallifewithali]

Right?! That’s kind of what I was thinking. Thanks!